A little lawn sense
How short should I cut my grass in summer?
Use your grass’s mowing range and keep to the upper end during stress. Cutting everything short makes a tidy lawn briefly and a harder job later.
Choose the right range
For typical home lawns, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass often do well around 2.5 to 3.5 inches, and tall fescue around 3 to 4. Common Bermuda, zoysia and centipede commonly use 1 to 2 inches; St. Augustine usually needs 3 to 4. Cultivars and local guidance can differ.
Mow by growth
Remove no more than one-third of the blade at one cut. If it has grown too tall, lower it in stages rather than scalping it. Short hybrid Bermuda may need a reel mower and a cultivar-specific schedule.
Keep the blade sharp
Ragged tips indicate a blade that may need sharpening. Leave ordinary clippings on the lawn, breaking up clumps that would smother it. Avoid mowing wet ground or severely wilted grass.
Questions from the yard
Should I mow all southern grass low?
No. St. Augustine needs a higher cut than Bermuda.
How often should I mow?
Often enough to remove no more than one-third of the blade; growth, not the weekday, sets the schedule.
Sources & further reading
- University of Georgia Extension: lawn-care-information.html
- University of Georgia Extension: ten-steps-to-a-healthier-home-lawn
Reviewed October 2026. General US home-lawn guidance; local recommendations may differ.